Michelia plant named ‘MICjur01’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Michelia  cultivar named ‘MICJUR01’ is disclosed, characterized by having an robust, compact growth habit and large light pink flowers. The new variety is a  Michelia , normally produced as a small ornamental tree.

Latin name of the genus and species: Michelia yunnanensis×hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘MICjur01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The new variety resulted from a crossing performed in 1996 in North Taranaki, Nth Is, New Zealand. The seed parent is the unpatented, unnamed Michelia yunnanensis. The pollen parent is the unpatented variety Michelia hybrid ‘Mixed Up Miss’. The new variety was selected 2001, by the inventor, Mark Jury at a commercial nursery in North Taranaki, Nth Is, New Zealand.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘MICjur01’ by vegetative cuttings was first in performed in 2002 at a commercial nursery in New Zealand and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘MICjur01’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘MICjur01’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘MICjur01’ as a new and distinct Michelia cultivar:

-   -   1. Distinctively large flower.     -   2. Robust growth.     -   3. Compact growth habit.     -   4. Light pink flowers.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MICjur01’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, Michelia yunnanensis in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘MICjur01’ have larger flowers with light pink coloration, rather than the all white flowers of the parent variety.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MICjur01’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent, Michelia hybrid. ‘Mixed up Miss’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘MICjur01’ have larger flowers with more pink coloration, then the pollen parent. Additionally, the new variety produces more flowers, which open more slowly than those of the pollen parent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘MICjur01’ outdoors. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 6 years from a rooted cutting.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color typical flowers of ‘MICjur01’. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘MICjur01’ plants grown outdoors in New Zealand. Growing conditions are similar to USDA Zone 7. Age of the plants when described is approximately 4.5 years old. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Michelia yunnanensis×hybrid ‘MICjur01’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 60 days at approximately 21° C. -   Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 120 days at 21° C. -   Root description: Typical Michelia root, thick, coarse, colored near     RHS White 155A.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright, spreading small evergreen tree. -   In a container or in the ground: Ground. -   Height: Approximately 4 meters. -   Plant spread: Approximately 3 meters. -   Growth rate: Approximately 10 years to reach 4 meters. -   Branching characteristics: Normally a single trunk tree with lateral     branches forming at acute angles, 15-30 degree, to the trunk.     -   -   Individual branch characteristics (of 4.5 year old             tree).—Length: up to 50 cm. Diameter: up to 2 cm. Texture:             slightly foveolate. Color: Near RHS Brown 200A and 200B,             both colors present individually. -   Trunk:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 15 cm, after 8 years. Measured             approximately 10 cm above the ground.         -   Texture.—Slightly foveolate.         -   Color.—Near RHS Brown 200B.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Mixed alternate, and occasionally opposite.         -   Average length.—Approximately 13 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 5.5 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, leathery.         -   Texture of lower surface.—Smooth.         -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 3 cm.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 138A. Young             foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138A.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple 183B. -   Petals:     -   -   Petal arrangement.—Whorled, overlapping.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Size.—Length: 4.0 cm. Width: 2.3 cm.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Petal quantity.—Approximately 9 to 13.         -   Texture.—Smooth. -   Color: Petals: When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 63C.     Lower surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 63B. Fully opened: Upper surface:     Near RHS Red-Purple 62D, margin near RHS Red-Purple 63C. Lower     surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 62D, margin near RHS Red-Purple 63C.     Color Changes when aging: Maintains the same tone, becomes slightly     lighter, background becomes more White N155C. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Length.—Approximately 2 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 1 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Red-Purple 63C, margin near RHS Red-Purple             63B. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 138A. Mature             foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138A.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 144A. Venation color under side: Near RHS Green             143C.         -   Petiole.—Not present, sessile.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Flowering begins mid Spring. Lasts     approximately 10 weeks. -   Begins flowering after how many years/months: 1.5 to 2 years after     planting an unrooted cutting. -   Inflorescence type and habit: Singly occurring star shaped, profuse     flowering. -   Rate of flower opening: Approximately 6 days from bud to fully     opened flower. -   Flower longevity on plant: 4 to 5 days, after fully opened. -   Quantity of flowers: Profuse, thousands per tree. -   Inflorescence size:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 6 cm.         -   Length.—Approximately 4 cm. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—0.5 cm. -   Sepals/tepals: Not Present. -   Fragrance: Slight.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—Approximately 25.         -   Filament length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.         -   Filament color.—Near RHS Greyed-Orange 163B. -   Anthers:     -   -   Length.—Appoximately 0.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Linear.         -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Red 181A. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—Approximately 2 cm.         -   Style.—Length: Approximately 1.8 cm. Color: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 144B.         -   Pollen.—Quantity: Moderate. Color: Near RHS Greyed-Orange             163B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: The new cultivar does not set seed. Small, dry     fruit produced, not reaching maturity and dropping after     approximately 10 days.     -   -   Fruit color.—Begins near RHS Yellow-Green 144C, changes to             Brown 200B before dropping.         -   Size.—Approximately 0.7 cm long, 0.2 cm wide. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     pathogens and pests common to Michelia have been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: The new variety is suitable for growing in     USDA zones 3 through 8. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Michelia plant named ‘MICjur01’ as herein illustrated and described. 